JEWELLER Geoff Neary is to retire after a sparkling 50-year career in Huddersfield.

Mr Neary, 65, has travelled the world seeking out unusual items of silver and jewellery to sell in his old-fashioned shop at Market Avenue.

The shop, which opened as a jeweller's in 1852, is a treasure trove of Victorian and Edwardian jewellery, including brooches, cameos, necklaces, bracelets and ornaments.

The store was last fitted out in 1901 - and retains its black polished mahogany display cases and a wrought iron spiral staircase leading to a small office.

Mr Neary joined the business in 1957 when it was run by his father, Fred Neary, and business partner Archie Fillan.

Later, the two families went their separate ways, with Mr Neary focusing on antique and second-hand silver and jewellery and the Fillans running a mainstream high street jewellery business.

During his years in the trade, Mr Neary has travelled to New York, Paris and Geneva to find items for the shop.

He has handled jewellery owned by kings, queens and potentates and bought pieces by renowned craftsmen such as Fabergé.

He has undertaken challenging commissions - including ones to value the Kirklees civic silver and mayoral regalia and to repair the Mayor of Dewsbury's chain of office after it was damaged in a burglary.

He has also been called as an expert witness on gems and silverware in several criminal court cases.

Mr Neary has also found time to be a governor at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School and Wakefield Girls' High School.

He also helped to raise £13m for the NSPCC's Centenary Appeal when he served on the Duke of Westminster's fundraising committee.

Mr Neary is a member of Woodsome Hall Golf Club.

In retirement, he hopes to spend more time with his wife, Rosalind, enjoying sailing their yacht, which is berthed at Falmouth, Cornwall.

Mr Neary is a Fellow of the Gemmological Association and a founder of the National Association of Goldsmiths Valuation Committee.

Ten years ago he was given one of the industry's highest honours when we was made a member of the London Diamond Bourse at Hatton Garden.

Mr Neary's store manager, Eileen Goddard, is also planning to retire after almost 20 years with the company.

Said Mr Neary: "I'm not Peter Pan and I'm not going to live for ever. I had to make a decision to retire at a time of my choosing."

He has not set a date for the closure of the shop as he intends to sell as much stock as possible first - prompting the first `sale' in the shop's 150-year history.

Mr Neary said: "I knew a long time ago that I should not try to compete with some of the large national companies, because I would never have their buying power to sell new jewellery and watches.

"I have tried to stick to the quality end of the market. It is like a museum selling up, really, because I have been a bit of a magpie!"